Patents Examined by Kevin R Steckbauer
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Patent number: 11603811Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnostics of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) components including an EGR pressure sensor. In one example, a method may include comparing a current relationship between an output of the EGR pressure sensor and a manifold air pressure (MAP) and a pre-calibrated relation between the output of the EGR pressure sensor and the MAP to detect degradation of the EGR pressure sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert Jentz, Edward Doemer, Patrick Edward Smithberger, Sumanth Reddy Dadam, Sitaram Rejeti, Adam Krach, Dave Hagner
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Patent number: 11598248Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes a reciprocating compressor for pressurizing a fluid medium and having a compressor cylinder for accommodating a compressor piston. The compressor cylinder has a main cylinder volume and a secondary adjustable volume in fluid communication with the main cylinder volume so as to provide a variable geometrical compression ratio.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2021Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATIONInventor: Arne Andersson
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Patent number: 11584356Abstract: A method of controlling charging of a battery may include making, by a controller, the battery that supplies power to a drive motor start to be charged with a boosted voltage higher than a voltage of a fast charger by controlling a switch connecting the drive motor and the fast charger of a vehicle and a switch of an inverter driving the drive motor, for fast charging of the battery; determining, by the controller, whether a motor position sensor has failure according to an output signal of the motor position sensor which detects a position of the drive motor; engaging, by the controller, an engine clutch that is configured to connect or disconnect the engine of the vehicle and the drive motor, when the controller determines that the motor position sensor has the failure; and maintaining, by the controller, the fast charging for the battery when a rotation of the drive motor stops after the engine clutch is engaged.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATIONInventor: Yong Hyun Kim
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Patent number: 11585309Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a system and method for providing supplemental power to start one or more cranking motors. The supplemental starting system includes a starting-signal isolator configured to connect to one or more electrical starting-signal wires providing starting signal to one or more cranking motors, a resetting relay electrically connecting to the starting-signal isolator, a programmable logic controller (PLC) electrically connecting to the resetting relay, a supplemental battery relay electrically connecting to the starting-signal isolator and the PLC, a supplemental battery electrically connecting to the supplemental battery relay, and a positive output-terminal electrically connecting to the supplemental battery relay.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2022Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: KOLD-BAN INTERNATIONAL LTD.Inventors: James O. Burke, Dean R. Solberg
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Patent number: 11577745Abstract: An information processing device acquires question information. The information processing device acquires vehicle state information representing a state of the vehicle. The information processing device acquires answer information in response to the question information, the answer information including an image for display. The information processing device, in a case in which the vehicle state information represents that the vehicle is traveling, stores the answer information in a storage. The information processing device, in a case in which the information processing device acquires vehicle state information representing that the vehicle is stopped, outputs the answer information stored in the storage.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keiko Nakano, Eiichi Maeda, Chikage Kubo, Hiroyuki Nishizawa
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Patent number: 11578685Abstract: A motorised fluid metering valve includes an inlet pipe, a discharge pipe and a motor moving a piston that can move linearly between a closed position in which a distal end of the piston sealingly engages with a seat of matching shape, and an open position. The valve is configured to have a flow rate that varies continuously between the closed position and the open position depending on an axial position of the piston. The inlet pipe opens in a periphery of the discharge pipe, with a constant protuberance regardless of the position of the piston, the protuberance not extending radially beyond a barycentre of the discharge pipe. Also, the motor is a rotary electric motor moving the piston in translation.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: MMT AGInventors: Philip Graf, Marc Fuin, Martin Lütenegger
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Patent number: 11560870Abstract: An ignition coil control system may include a first ignition coil including a primary coil and a secondary coil; a first switch that selectively electrically-connects the primary coil of the first ignition coil; a second ignition coil including a primary coil and a secondary coil; a second switch that selectively electrically-connects the primary coil of the second ignition coil; a pair of electrodes generating spark discharge by a discharge current generated in the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil; and an ignition controller that controls spark discharge of the pair of electrodes by adjusting an amount and a duration of the discharge current of the first ignition coil and the second ignition coil by turning the first switch and the second switch on or off according to a single pulse signal having a constant voltage including different voltages transmitted from an engine control unit (ECU).Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2021Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia CorporationInventors: Kiseon Sim, Dongwon Jung, Won Gyu Kim, Jin Oh Song, Soo Hyung Woo
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Patent number: 11560828Abstract: An engine includes a combustion chamber, a cylinder head, an intake valve, a partition wall plate, and a tumble valve. The cylinder head includes an intake port that communicates with the combustion chamber. The intake valve includes a head configured to open and close an open end of the intake port. The partition wall plate partitions the intake port into first and second passages. The tumble valve is configured to open and close either one of the first passage and the second passage. A cross sectional shape of the partition wall plate is defined on a basis of a shape of a gap that is surrounded by a contour of the head and a contour of the open end, as viewed in a reference direction. The reference direction is a direction from a reference point in the intake port to a gap between the open end and the head.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2021Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Kenta Kimoto, Masaaki Kato, Satoru Yamaguchi, Takumi Murata, Takeshi Tsuda, Akihisa Yoshino, Daisuke Miyashita
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Patent number: 11555474Abstract: A pipe section of a common rail line is provided for the high-pressure injection of a fluid. The pipe section has at least a first pipe and an adapter in which the first pipe has a wall and extends at least along an axial direction. The wall has an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface and encloses a first line. The adapter has a connector piece and a second pipe. The connector piece extends annularly around the first pipe and is situated on the outer circumferential surface. A second line that is formed by the second pipe is fluidically connected to the first line via a first opening in the first pipe and a second opening in the connector piece. At least the adapter is manufactured by a metal powder injection molding process. Two methods for manufacturing a pipe section are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2021Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: GKN Sinter Metals Engineering GmbHInventors: Antonio Casellas, Jack Schwarz, Wolfgang Schütz
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Patent number: 11554731Abstract: An electrical system in a vehicle has a battery is configured to supply electrical current when a driver ignition key is in a Key-Off state. A. A plurality of electrical loads are each configurable to receive the electrical current flowing from the battery during the Key-Off state depending upon predetermined Key-Off-Load (KOL) Modes. A vehicle locator determines a geographic location of the vehicle. A sleep-time database records daily Key-On and Key-Off events according to changes between the Key-On state and the Key-Off state, wherein each Key-Off event is associated with a respective geographic location from the vehicle locator. An analyzer identifies Key-Off events sharing a repetitive time span and a common geographic location. A scheduler activates a timed KOL sequence according to the identified Key-Off events so that repetitive time slots of vehicle usage can be used to reduce battery drain during times when vehicle usage is less likely.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2021Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Hanyang B. Chen, Michael J. Irby
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Patent number: 11542902Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting piece for a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine comprising at least one high-pressure input port and at least one high-pressure output port, wherein the high-pressure input port and the high-pressure output port open into an internal high-pressure accumulator of the connecting piece and/or the injector via separate high-pressure feed channels.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2019Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: LIEBHERR-COMPONENTS DEGGENDORF GMBHInventors: Richard Pirkl, Razvan-Sorin Stinghe, Wolfgang Melder, Markus Hoellbacher
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Patent number: 11542904Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a start/stop feature. In one example, a method includes adjusting start/stop conditions in response to a vehicle operator customizing start/stop conditions. The vehicle operator customizes start/stop conditions for a plurality of different driving conditions.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jeremy Lerner, Jae Hyung Lim, Taylor Hawley, Mohammad Abouali, Xingping Chen, Scott Huggins, Navid Tafaghodi Khajavi, Ryan Jones, Nahid Pervez
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Patent number: 11536238Abstract: A method of starting an integrated starter generator drives a starter generator without using a rotor position sensor to start an engine. The method includes the following steps of: (a) applying a first drive current with a first frequency and a first amplitude to drive the starter generator to reversely rotate in a speed open-loop control mode, and acquiring a first load information according to a drive voltage and the first drive current of the starter generator, (b) confirming whether the first load information meets a heavy load condition, (c) stopping reversely rotating the starter generator when the first load information meets the heavy load condition, and (d) forwardly rotating the starter generator to drive the engine to start.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Hung-Hsing Chiang, Chin-Hao Chen, Cheng-Chung Li
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Patent number: 11530672Abstract: The present disclosure is intended to provide an internal combustion engine that can inhibit fuel from adhering to a piston and can reduce generation of soot. An internal combustion engine includes a piston, a cylinder accommodating the piston, and an injector including a nozzle that has a plurality of nozzle holes configured to inject fuel into the cylinder from above the cylinder. Among the plurality of nozzle holes, a sixth nozzle hole an axial direction of which is the most deflected toward the piston has a nozzle hole diameter larger than nozzle hole diameters of the other nozzle holes, and the nozzle hole diameter of the sixth nozzle hole corresponds to at least 20% of the total of the nozzle hole diameters of the other nozzle holes.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2022Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshitaka Maeda, Suguru Fukuda
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Patent number: 11530674Abstract: Provided is a start-stop control apparatus to be mounted in a vehicle including an engine, a starter motor configured to restart the engine, and an auxiliary battery configured to supply electric power to the starter motor. The start-stop control apparatus includes a stop processing unit and an engine measuring unit. The stop processing unit stops idling of the engine while the vehicle is being stopped. The engine measuring unit measures an internal loss of the engine. The stop processing unit determines whether to stop the idling of the engine on the basis of the internal loss measured by the engine measuring unit and the state of charge of the auxiliary battery.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2021Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Fumiyuki Moriya, Atsushi Doki, Hirofumi Yabe, Takumi Hoshi, Kazutaka Hara
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Patent number: 11519322Abstract: A fuel injector assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a fuel injector extending at least to the distal end portion, the fuel injector including a fuel opening. The fuel injector assembly also includes a chamber formed between the proximal and distal end portions, a flame passage extending from the chamber to the distal end portion, and an atomizer configured to provide atomization of liquid fuel injected into the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Robert M. McDavid
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Patent number: 11518254Abstract: A power adjustment system and a power adjustment method of an autonomous mobile device are provided. In the power adjustment method, two first current control signals respectively transmitted to two drivers are outputted by a control module. A tilt angle of the autonomous mobile device is detected by an inertial measurement module. A travel route is planned by a navigation module, and the control module obtains a steering angle of the autonomous mobile device during a traveling process. According to different weight values of the autonomous mobile device stored in a database module, a weight of the autonomous mobile device is estimated by the control module. According to the two first current control signals and the weight, the steering angle, and the tilt angle of the autonomous mobile device, two second current control signals respectively transmitted to the two drivers are outputted by the control module.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: ADATA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventor: Chi-Chien Lin
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Patent number: 11519344Abstract: A method for reducing NOx emissions during operation of an internal combustion engine in commerce which, when burning hydrocarbon fuel as a primary fuel, in the absence of any secondary fuel, has a characteristic stoichiometric ration. The method includes the following: in the absence of electrolytic activity, providing and entraining a quenching species in a gaseous medium and then interacting the quenching species with constituents present during oxidation of the primary fuel in a combustion chamber of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Inventor: Yaw Obeng
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Patent number: 11519342Abstract: A phase adjuster assembly is disclosed that includes an input gear connected to an input shaft via an interface assembly configured to provide both axial movement and rotational locking between the input gear and the input shaft. A piston plate is connected to the input shaft, and the piston plate defines at least one inner spiral bidirectional raceway. An output gear is configured to be driven by the input shaft, and the output gear at least partially defines at least one outer spiral bidirectional raceway. At least one first rolling element is arranged between the at least one inner bidirectional raceway and the at least one outer spiral bidirectional raceway. Axial movement of the piston plate adjusts a phase between the input gear and the output gear. The input shaft is configured to be axially displaced via axial movement of the piston plate.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2022Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KGInventor: Nicholas Hrusch
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Patent number: 11513036Abstract: Systems and methods that allow a smartphone to be used as an imaging device for undercarriage inspection of a moving vehicle are provided. The method may include locating the smartphone on the ground via one or more sensors of the vehicle. The vehicle may generate a path for the vehicle to drive over the smartphone based on the location of the smartphone, and optionally display the path to facilitate manual driving of the vehicle by the driver over the smartphone. Alternatively, the vehicle may self-drive to follow the path. The smartphone may capture image data indicative of the undercarriage of the vehicle, inspect and analyze the image data to identify one or more issues of the undercarriage of the vehicle, and transmit the analyzed image data to the vehicle for display. The driver may confirm the one or more issues and transmit the data to an inspection professional for additional assistance if needed.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jianbo Lu, Yifan Chen, Meghna Menon, Kurt Michael Lundeen